help 3inc of soil and hard compressed clay underneath !!

I need help, i have a new border which has 3inc of top soil and then very hard compressed clay like concrete at the bottom , i want to plant a shrub or a tree but im not sure if i can plant anything in this border.
Please help

 

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Can you not just dig it all over and mix in some compost? Or is it too hard to dig?

 

thanks for getting back to me , its so hard id need to use a pick axe to dig it !

 

Planting in pots would be the only answer if you're not going to dig the border over. If you do want to plant in the border you're going to have to thoroughly dig over the soil to at least a spit's depth, then add lots of well rotted manure and organic material such as straw to help improve drainage. You could also try adding sand and small gravel.